flowers. This was her as now asked what it was that had gone so much amiss. Em’ly told her, and she — took her home. She did indeed. She took her home,’ said Mr. Peggotty, covering his face.

He was more affected by this act of kindness, than I had ever seen him affected by anything since the night she went away. My aunt and I did not attempt to disturb him.

‘It was a little cottage, you may suppose,’ he said, presently, ‘but she found space for Em’ly in it, — her husband was away at sea, — and she kep it secret, and prevailed upon such neighbours as she had (they was not many near) to keep it secret too.

Em’ly was took bad with fever, and, what is very strange to me is, — maybe ‘tis not so strange to scholars, —